IN REMEMBRANCE
On the 11th day of the 11th month at the passing of the 11th hour each year, the world that was once the British Empire and is today the British Commonwealth stands still. Preceded by the plaintive call of the bugle sounding the Last Post, two minutes of silence is observed to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, specifically since the First World War, the cessation of which is officially set at 11am, 11th November 1918. [The United States of America also observes Nov 11th as one of two holidays in honor of its war sacrifices.]
It would be perfectly natural for us, in the year 2010, living in America in a new and vibrant culture, to question the relevance of this type of ritual to our current existence. This after all, seems to be describing an archaic tradition, imposed by our erstwhile colonial masters in memory of conflicts they started without so much as a By your leave from us. We could say to ourselves We have moved on, turned our back on things colonial. And all this might be an acceptable truism but for the glaring fact of history that starting in 1914, and continuing up to our Independence in 1966 our people, our grandparents and parents of both genders, suspended their struggles for fair suffrage and social equality in the colonies in order to rally to King and Country in its hours of need.
Theirs was a remarkable story, in many ways a glorious story that is unfortunately barely catalogued and made available to the present day public. They, young men and young women from all over Guyana and from every Caribbean territory, went willingly into terrible danger conveying their sense of duty and patriotism. Some, in their efforts to join units that were not recruiting in the West Indies, paid their own passages to England in order to enlist.
They served, they fought, they died, they triumphed, and then they returned home to continue quiet lives of leadership and achievement firm in the belief that they were the equal of any man or race on earth. We cannot forget what they did; we cannot forsake their memory; neither can we ignore the few, the very few of them that survive today among us, quietly fading as old soldiers do.
Today we are honored to publish a Roll of 43 veterans of the 2nd World War who reside in Guyana or are otherwise known to the Guyana Legion. Words cannot adequately describe the humility we feel as we join them in remembering the trying times they endured and the comrades they left behind. To them we simply say:
YOU saw a vision of a bright future.
YOU paid in blood to ensure that WE might inherit it.
Your sacrifice has not been in vain.
Thank you.
ROLL CALL
BUNYAN, Hector Southern Caribbean Force
BURNETT, Carlton
CHAPMAN, Olly
CHEESEWRITHT, Vernon
CHARLES, Alphonso
CUNHA, Cecil
DANIELS, James
DANIELS, Sylbert
DE FREITAS Lloyd
DURANT, Benjamin
FERRIER, Irving
FULLINGTON, Herman
GITTENS, Kenneth
GOODING, Joseph
GRANT, Donald Royal Air Force
GREEN, Winslow Southern Caribbean Force
HARPER, Herbie Royal Air Force
HARRY, Bertram Southern Caribbean Force
HERBERT, Lennox
HINES, Cecil
HINTZEN, Lloyd
JOHNSON, Noel
LEGALL, Varney
MC KENZIE Lucille Auxiliary Territorial Service
MC KINNON, Charles Southern Caribbean Force
MIGGINS, John
MITTLEHOLZER, Edgar
MOORE, Fred
MOORE, Randolph
MOORE, Allan
MULLER, Claude
NESTOR, Randolph
NOEL, Vibert Royal Corps of Signals
PERCIVAL, Charles Sothern Caribbean Force
PERCIVAL, Leslie
PIERRE, Eustace
RAMSEY, Emil
RAWLINS, Patrick
SAMUELS, James
STEWART, Gerald
STEWART, Kenneth
TONEY, Wilfred
WILSON, Herbert
Editors notes:
1) Photos were downloaded from the West India Regiment Photo Album on the website http://pub26.bravenet.com/photocenter/album.php?usernum=2152098292#bn-photocenter-1-1-2152098292.
2) The names of these Guyanese veterans were provided by the Guyana Legion; if any reader knows of omissions, please contact
President of the Legion Carl Morgan at cblm@gol.net.gy with the details.
